Laser diode and method of manufacturing laser diode

ABSTRACT

A laser diode includes a ridge portion, channel portions located adjacent to the ridge portion such that the ridge portion is sandwiched, the channel portions being shorter in height than the ridge portion, terrace portions adjacent to opposite sides of the respective channel portions from the ridge portion and longer in height than the channel portions, supporting portions provided over the respective channel portions, separated from side surfaces of the ridge portion or side surfaces of terrace portions or both, and made of resin, a ceiling portion including first portions provided over the supporting portions and second portions continuous with the first portions and located over the respective channel portions with hollow portions interposed therebetween, the ceiling portion being made of resin, and a metal layer provided over the ceiling portion and connected to an upper surface of the ridge portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a laser diode which, for example,operates fast, and a method of manufacturing the laser diode.

Background Art

Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2006-066411 discloses anitride semiconductor laser diode including a ridge stripe provided in asemiconductor layer, groove portions provided along both sides of theridge stripe, and unfilled portions between a metal layer formed overthe groove portions and bottom portions of the groove portions. Themetal layer is supported by the ridge stripe and hill portions providedoutside the groove portions.

Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2007-173392 discloses atechnique in which hollows are formed along both sides of a mesa stripe.An insulating portion and an electrode portion provided on theinsulating portion are formed above the hollows.

The laser diode of Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2006-066411has the problem that because of the proximity of the metal layer overthe unfilled portions to the semiconductor layer, parasitic capacitanceinfluences characteristics of the laser diode. The laser diode ofJapanese laid-open patent publication No. 2007-173392 has thepossibility that the insulating portion may sag into the hollows.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished to solve the above-describedproblems. An object of the present invention is to provide a laser diodein which hollow portions provided along both sides of a mesa stripe canbe ensured while reduced parasitic capacitance is realized, and a methodof manufacturing the laser diode.

The features and advantages of the present invention may be summarizedas follows.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a laser diode includesa ridge portion raised in a stripe shape, channel portions locatedadjacent to the ridge portion such that the ridge portion is sandwichedtherebetween, the channel portions being shorter in height than theridge portion, terrace portions adjacent to opposite sides of therespective channel portions from the ridge portion and longer in heightthan the channel portions, supporting portions provided over therespective channel portions, separated from respective adjacent sidesurfaces of the ridge portion or side surfaces of the respectiveadjacent terrace portions or both, and made of resin, a ceiling portionincluding first portions provided over the respective supportingportions and second portions continuous with the respective firstportions and located over the respective channel portions with hollowportions interposed therebetween, the ceiling portion being made ofresin, and a metal layer provided over the ceiling portion and connectedto an upper surface of the ridge portion.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method ofmanufacturing a laser diode includes the steps of forming resin inportions of channel portions of a laser structure to form hollowportions sealed with the laser structure and the resin, the laserstructure including a ridge portion raised in a stripe shape, thechannel portions having the ridge portion sandwiched therebetween andbeing shorter in height than the ridge portion, and terrace portionsadjacent to opposite sides of the respective channel portion from theridge portion and longer in height than the channel portions, forming ametal layer contacting an upper surface of the ridge portion over theresin, and patterning the metal layer using resist.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a method ofmanufacturing a laser diode includes the steps of forming supportingportions made of resin in portions of channel portions of a laserstructure, the laser structure including a ridge portion raised in astripe shape, the channel portions having the ridge portion sandwichedtherebetween and being shorter in height than the ridge portion, andterrace portions adjacent to opposite sides of the respective channelportion from the ridge portion and longer in height than the channelportions, the supporting portions being separated from respectiveadjacent side surfaces of the ridge portion or side surfaces of therespective adjacent terrace portions or both, forming a ceiling portionsupported by the supporting portion and the ridge portion and made ofresin by any one of laminating and STP to form hollow portions betweenthe ceiling portion and the channel portions, and forming a metal layercontacting an upper surface of the ridge portion over the ceilingportion.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention willappear more fully from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a laser diode according toembodiment 1;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a laser structure and the like;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the precursor and the like;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the supporting portions and thelike;

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the supporting portions and the like;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the supporting portions and thelike;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the insulating film and thelike;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the ceiling portion and thelike;

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the ceiling portion;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the insulating film and thelike;

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the metal layer and the like;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a laser diode;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a laser diode according toembodiment 2;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of supporting portions and the like;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of supporting portions and the like;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of an insulating film and the like;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the ceiling portion having wideopening and the like;

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of an insulating film and the like;

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a laser diode according toembodiment 3;

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of supporting portions and the like;

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of supporting portions and the like;

FIG. 22 is a plan view of supporting portions and the like;

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of insulating portion and the like;

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view of the ceiling portion and the like;

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of a laser diode according toembodiment 4;

FIG. 26 is a plan view of ceiling portion and the like;

FIG. 27 is a plan view showing the metal layer and the like;

FIG. 28 is a plan view showing the supporting portions formed to besmall and the like;

FIG. 29 is a plan view showing the ceiling portion formed to be smalland the like;

FIG. 30 is a plan view showing the metal layer formed to be small andthe like;

FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view of a laser diode according toembodiment 5;

FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view of a laser diode according toembodiment 6;

FIG. 33 is a plan view of supporting portions of a laser diode accordingto embodiment 7;

FIG. 34 is a plan view of supporting portions according to a modifiedexample;

FIG. 35 is a plan view of supporting portions according to embodiment 8;

FIG. 36 is a plan view of ceiling portion and the like; and

FIG. 37 is a plan view of metal layer and the like.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Laser diodes and laser diode manufacturing methods according toembodiments of the present invention will be described with reference tothe drawings. The same or corresponding components will be denoted bythe same reference signs, and the repetition of explanation thereof maybe omitted.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a laser diode according toembodiment 1. This laser diode includes a ridge portion 10 a raised in astripe shape. Channel portions 10 b are formed along both sides of theridge portion 10 a to be adjacent to the ridge portion 10 a such thatthe ridge portion 10 a is sandwiched therebetween. The channel portions10 b are shorter in height than the ridge portion 10 a. On the oppositeside of each channel portion 10 b from the ridge portion 10 a, a terraceportion 10 c is formed adjacent to the channel portion 10 b. The terraceportions 10 c are longer in height than the channel portions 10 b. Theterrace portions 10 c and the ridge portion 10 a have approximatelyequal heights. The ridge portion 10 a, the channel portions 10 b, andthe terrace portions 10 c are collectively referred to as a laserstructure 10. The laser structure 10 is made of semiconductors.

An upper surface of the laser structure 10 is covered with an insulatingfilm 12. A supporting portion 13 made of resin is provided over eachchannel portion 10 b. The supporting portion 13 is provided to beseparated from both an adjacent side surface of the ridge portion 10 aand a side surface of the adjacent terrace portion 10 c. Hollow portions15 are formed on both sides of the supporting portion 13. The supportingportions 13 and the insulating film 12 are covered with an insulatingfilm 14.

A ceiling portion 16 made of resin is provided over the laser structure10 and the supporting portions 13. The ceiling portion 16 includes afirst portion 16 a provided over each supporting portion 13, secondportions 16 b continuous with the first portion 16 a and located overthe channel portion 10 b with the hollow portions 15 interposedtherebetween, and a third portion 16 c provided over each terraceportion 10 c. The first portions 16 a, the second portions 16 b, and thethird portions 16 c are integrally formed.

An insulating film 17 is formed on the ceiling portion 16. A metal layer18 is provided over the ceiling portion 16 with the insulating film 17interposed therebetween. The insulating films 12, 14, and 17 and theceiling portion 16 have openings over the ridge portion 10 a. Fillingthese openings with the metal layer 18 connects the metal layer 18 to anupper surface of the ridge portion 10 a.

A laser diode manufacturing method according to embodiment 1 of thepresent invention will be described. A first step will be described withreference to FIG. 2, which is a cross-sectional view showing a laserstructure and the like. In this step, the laser structure 10 is coveredwith the insulating film 12. After that, an opening on the ridge portion10 a is formed in the insulating film 12.

Subsequently, a precursor made of photosensitive resin is applied to thelaser structure 10. FIG. 3, which is a cross-sectional view, shows theprecursor 13A. The precursor 13A fills grooves formed by the ridgeportion 10 a, the channel portions 10 b, and the terrace portions 10 c.

Then, the precursor 13A is patterned by exposure and development. FIG.4, which is a cross-sectional view, shows the supporting portions 13obtained by patterning the precursor. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing thesupporting portions 13 and the like. Patterning the precursor forms thesupporting portions 13 separated from the ridge portion 10 a and theterrace portions 10 c and buried portions 30 continuous with thesupporting portions 13. The supporting portions 13 are portionsextending parallel to the ridge portion 10 a. The buried portions 30 areprovided over the channel portions 10 b and connected to opposite endsof the respective supporting portions 13 in planar view. Each buriedportion 30 contacts both the adjacent side surface of the ridge portion10 a and the side surface of the adjacent terrace portion 10 c. Thus,the buried portions 30 fill portions of the grooves formed along bothsides of the ridge portion 10 a. FIG. 5 shows four buried portions 30such as described above. The buried portions 30 are provided along endfaces of the laser diode. Aright-side end face of the structure shown inFIG. 5 is a front end face, and a left-side end face thereof is a rearend face.

After that, curing is performed to harden the supporting portions 13made of resin. FIG. 6, which is a cross-sectional view, shows thesupporting portions 13 after curing. The thickness of the aforementionedprecursor 13A or the temperature and time of curing are adjusted so thatthe supporting portions 13 and the buried portions 30 after shrinkageand the ridge portion 10 a may have approximately equal heights.

Subsequently, an insulating film is formed on the supporting portions13, the buried portions 30, and the laser structure 10. FIG. 7, which isa cross-sectional view, shows a state in which the insulating film 14 isformed on the supporting portions 13, the buried portions 30, and theinsulating film 12. The insulating film 14 has an opening over the ridgeportion 10 a.

Then, a ceiling portion is formed. FIG. 8, which is a cross-sectionalview, shows the ceiling portion 16. The ceiling portion 16 is formed bylaminating or STP (Spin Coating Film Transfer and Hot-pressing).Specifically, a sheet film having a photosensitive resin film formedthereon is joined to upper surfaces of the ridge portion 10 a, thesupporting portions 13, and the terrace portions 10 c. After that, thesheet film is removed to leave the ceiling portion 16 made of aphotosensitive resin film. The ceiling portion 16 is supported by thesupporting portions 13, the ridge portion 10 a, and the terrace portions10 c. Forming the ceiling portion 16 causes the hollow portions 15 to beformed between the ceiling portion 16 and the channel portions 10 b.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the laser diode after the formation of theceiling portion 16. In FIG. 9, broken lines indicate boundaries betweenthe ridge portion 10 a and each channel portion 10 b and boundariesbetween each channel portion 10 b and the corresponding terrace portion10 c. Dashed dotted lines indicate outlines of the supporting portions13 and the buried portions 30. The ceiling portion 16 includes the firstportions 16 a, the second portions 16 b, and the third portions 16 c andfurther includes fourth portions 16 d provided over the buried portions30 and continuous with the first portions 16 a or the second portions 16b. The ceiling portion is patterned by exposure and development to forman opening over the ridge portion 10 a. After that, the ceiling portion16 is hardened by curing. Forming the ceiling portion 16 causes thehollow portions 15 to be sealed with the buried portions 30, the laserstructure 10, and the ceiling portion 16. Each hollow portion 15 is anenclosed space, and no matter enters the hollow portions 15 from theoutside.

Subsequently, an insulating film is formed. FIG. 10, which is across-sectional view, shows a state in which the insulating film 17 isformed on the ceiling portion 16. The insulating film 17 has an openingover the ridge portion 10 a. Then, the metal layer 18 is formed over theceiling portion 16 with the insulating film 17 interposed therebetween.A cross-sectional view of the laser diode having the metal layer 18formed therein is FIG. 1. The metal layer 18 fills the openings formedover the ridge portion 10 a to contact the upper surface of the ridgeportion 10 a.

The metal layer 18 is patterned in a predetermined shape so that themetal layer 18 can be used as metal wiring. Specifically, resist isformed on the insulating film 17 in a state in which the hollow portions15 are sealed with the ceiling portion 16, the resist is patterned, andpart of the metal layer 18 is etched using the resist as a mask. Thus,the patterned metal layer 18 shown in FIG. 11, which is a plan view, isobtained. Since the hollow portions 15 are sealed with the ceilingportion 16, the buried portions 30, and the laser structure 10 whenresist is used, resist does not enter the hollow portions 15 to generateresist residue there. The completed metal layer 18 includes pads 18Aover the terrace portions. Each pad 18A is a portion to which a wire isconnected by wire bonding.

The laser diode according to embodiment 1 of the present inventioneliminates the problem that the ceiling portion 16 sags into the hollowportions 15. This will be described below.

Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. Vol. 42 (2003) pp. 2462-2467 contains a descriptionon the relationship between the thickness of a resin film formed by STPand the size of a hollow portion. This document describes that the widthof a hollow portion should be 20 μm or less and 100 μm or less for resinfilms having thicknesses of approximately 2 μm and approximately 9 μm,respectively, in order to maintain the hollow portion (p. 2465, FIG.10). However, a general semiconductor laser diode has a channel portionwidth of approximately 10 to 50 μm and a resonator length ofapproximately 200 μm. If the film thickness of a ceiling portion is 1 to10 μm, it is difficult to form a hollow portion in the above-describedgeneral semiconductor laser diode. In other words, there has been theproblem that in the case where a ceiling portion is formed in theabove-described general-size semiconductor laser diode, the ceilingportion sags into the hollow portion because of insufficient strength ofthe ceiling portion.

In view of this, in the laser diode according to embodiment 1 of thepresent invention, the supporting portions 13 are provided in thechannel portions 10 b, and the supporting portions 13 support theceiling portion 16. Accordingly, the ceiling portion 16 can be preventedfrom sagging into the hollow portions 15.

In the laser diode according to embodiment 1 of the present invention,the capacitance thereof can be made small. This will be described below.A capacitance C is expressed by the equation C=ε₀ε_(r) S/d (ε₀: vacuumpermittivity, ε_(r): relative permittivity, S: area, d: distance). Sincethe metal layer 18 of the laser diode according to embodiment 1 of thepresent invention is provided over the hollow portions 15, the metallayer 18 can be located at a longer distance from the laser structure 10than in the case where the metal layer 18 is provided along the sidesurfaces of the ridge portion 10 a, the upper surfaces of the channelportions 10 b, and the side surfaces of the terrace portions 10 c.Accordingly, the capacitance can be made small.

A comparison between the case where grooves on both sides of a ridge arefilled with resin and the case where hollow portions are formed is madewith reference to FIG. 12. The hollow portions 15 contain air, and havea relative permittivity of 1. The supporting portions 13 and the ceilingportion 16, which are resin films, are assumed to have a relativepermittivity of 3. The thickness of the ceiling portion 16 is denoted byd₁, and the height of each hollow portion 15 is denoted by 2d₁. The areaof each supporting portion 13 is denoted by S₁/2, which is half of thearea S₁ of each channel portion 10 b. Thus, half of the volume of thegrooves on both sides of the ridge portion 10 a is occupied by thesupporting portions 13.

If the grooves on both sides of the ridge portion 10 a are filled withresin, the capacitance C is expressed as follows:C=ε ₀ε_(r) S ₁/(d ₁+2d ₁)=ε₀ S ₁ /d ₁.

The capacitance for the case where the hollow portions 15 are formed isfound. As shown in FIG. 12, the capacitance of the ceiling portion 16 isdenoted by C₁, the capacitance of the supporting portion 13 is denotedby C₂, and the capacitance of the hollow portions 15 is denoted by C₃.In FIG. 12, portions corresponding to C₁, C₂, and C₃ are indicated bybroken lines.

These capacitances are expressed as follows:C ₁=ε₀ε_(r) S ₁ /d ₁=ε₀·3·S ₁ /d ₁=3ε₀ S ₁ /d ₁,C ₂=ε₀ε_(r) S ₁/2/2d ₁=ε₀·3S ₁ /d ₁=3ε₀ S ₁ /d ₁, andC ₃=ε₀ε_(r) S ₁/2/2d ₁=ε₀·1·S ₁ /d ₁=ε₀ S ₁ /d ₁.

Since the ceiling portion 16 is in series and the supporting portion 13and the hollow portions 15 are in parallel as shown in FIG. 12, anequation expressing the whole capacitance C for the case where thehollow portions 15 are formed is as follows:1/C=1/C ₁+1/(C ₂ +C ₃).Accordingly,C=C ₁·(C ₂ +C ₃)/(C ₁ +C ₂ +C ₃)=3/4·ε₀ S ₁ /d ₁.From the above description, it can be seen that the capacitance can bemade smaller in the case where the hollow portions 15 are formed than inthe case where the grooves on both sides of the ridge portion 10 a arefilled with resin. Reducing the capacitance makes it possible to providea laser diode favorable to fast operation.

In the laser diode according to embodiment 1 of the present invention,parasitic capacitance can be made small. This will be described below.In the case where an interconnection extended from a ridge contacts alaser structure with an insulating film interposed therebetween,parasitic capacitance becomes large because the permittivity of theinsulating film is large. To prevent parasitic capacitance from becominglarge, the area of metal wiring including pad portions has needed to bemade small to make parasitic capacitance small. In the case where padportions are small, high wire bonding accuracy is needed in an assemblyprocess, and production is not stable.

However, in embodiment 1 of the present invention, providing the hollowportions 15 causes the metal layer 18 and the laser structure 10 to beseparated. Also, since the ceiling portion 16 and the supportingportions 13 made of resin having low permittivities, not insulatingfilms having high permittivities, exist between the metal layer 18 andthe laser structure 10, parasitic capacitance can be made small. Sincepad areas can be made large by an amount according to the reduction inparasitic capacitance, production stability can be improved.

Moreover, in the case where resin is formed on the laser structure 10,stress occurs in the resin due to the difference between the linearexpansion coefficients thereof, and the resin may be delaminated orcracked. However, in the laser diode according to embodiment 1 of thepresent invention, providing the hollow portions 15 reduces the contactareas between the supporting portions 13 made of resin and the laserstructure 10. Accordingly, internal stress in the supporting portions 13can be reduced, and the supporting portions 13 can be prevented frombeing delaminated and cracked.

With the laser diode manufacturing method according to embodiment 1 ofthe present invention, the hollow portions 15 can be ensured. This willbe described below. As described previously, since resist for patterningthe metal layer 18 is used in a state in which the hollow portions 15are sealed with the ceiling portion 16, the buried portions 30, and thelaser structure 10, resist can be prevented from entering the hollowportions 15. Accordingly, the hollow portions 15 can be ensured.

The laser diode according to embodiment 1 of the present invention andthe method of manufacturing the laser diode can be variously modifiedwithin a range in which features thereof are not lost. For example, toensure the hollow portions 15 while providing the supporting portions13, each of the supporting portions 13 needs to be separated from atleast one of the adjacent side surface of the ridge portion 10 a and theside surface of the adjacent terrace portion 10 c. In other words, thesupporting portion 13 may contact the side surface of the ridge portion10 a or the side surface of the terrace portion 10 c. If the supportingportion 13 contacts the terrace portion 10 c, the third portion 16 c ofthe ceiling portion 16 connects to the first portion 16 a, not thesecond portion 16 b. The third portion 16 c connects to the firstportion 16 a or the second portion 16 b, depending on the position ofthe supporting portion 13.

The insulating films 12, 14, and 17 of this laser diode are formed toimprove adhesiveness between layers and the moisture resistance of thesemiconductor laser. The presence or absence and the shape of each ofthese insulating films can be appropriately changed. For example, theinsulating films 14 and 17 may be omitted.

Each of the insulating films 12, 14, and 17 needs to have an openingover the ridge portion 10 a. All the openings of the insulating films12, 14, and 17 may be formed at the same time after the insulating film17 is formed. Forming all the openings of the insulating films 12, 14,and 17 at the same time shortens the process compared that for the casewhere the openings of the insulating films 12, 14, and 17 are formeddifferent steps, respectively.

Both or one of the supporting portion 13 and the ceiling portion 16 maybe made of non-photosensitive resin. In that case, for example, first,non-photosensitive resin is formed in a shape such as the shape of theprecursor 13A in FIG. 3. Then, overall etch back is performed on theresin by dry etching to match the surface of the resin with the surfacesof the ridge portion 10 a and the terrace portions 10 c. After that, ahard mask made of an insulating film and resist are formed, and resin inthe channel portions 10 b is patterned by dry etching to form thesupporting portions 13. To form an opening in the ceiling portion 16 sothat the upper surface of the ridge portion 10 a may be exposed, a hardmask made of an insulating film and resist are formed over the ceilingportion 16, and dry etching is performed. Using non-photosensitive resinhas the advantage that the amount of outgassing from resin materialduring curing is small.

To ensure the hollow portions 15, the hollow portions 15 need to besealed when the metal layer 18 is patterned using resist. The shapes ofthe supporting portions 13 and the ceiling portion 16 made of resin canbe appropriately changed as long as the hollow portions 15 can be sealedwith resin material and the laser structure 10. These modifications canalso be appropriately applied to laser diodes and laser diodemanufacturing methods according to embodiments below.

It should be noted that the laser diodes and the laser diodemanufacturing methods according to the embodiments below have manythings in common with those of embodiment 1, and therefore differencesfrom embodiment 1 will be mainly described.

Embodiment 2

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a laser diode according toembodiment 2. In the laser diode according to embodiment 2, supportingportions 40 contact side surfaces of the ridge portion 10 a. The ceilingportion 16 is supported by the supporting portions 40 and the terraceportions 10 c. Since the supporting portions 40 contact both sides ofthe ridge portion 10 a, the width of the ridge structure becomes largecompared to that of embodiment 1.

A laser diode manufacturing method according to embodiment 2 of thepresent invention will be described. First, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,the insulating film 12 is formed, and the precursor 13A ofphotosensitive resin is applied. Subsequently, the precursor 13A ispatterned to form the supporting portions 40. FIG. 14, which is across-sectional view, shows the supporting portions 40. The precursor13A is patterned by exposure and development to form the supportingportions 40 contacting the ridge portion 10 a. In the case where theridge width is smaller than the minimum pattern width, i.e., resolution,of the precursor, a resin film having a small thickness is left over theridge portion 10 a. This thin resin film can be removed by light ashing.

Subsequently, curing is performed to harden the supporting portions 40.FIG. 15, which is a cross-sectional view, shows the supporting portions40 hardened by curing. Resin material which is shrunk by curing isselected as material for the precursor 13A, and the supporting portions40 are shrunk by curing so that the supporting portions 40 and the ridgeportion 10 a may have approximately equal heights.

Then, an insulating film is formed. FIG. 16, which is a cross-sectionalview, shows a state in which the insulating film 14 is formed. Theinsulating film 14 covers the laser structure 10 and the supportingportions 40. The insulating film 14 has an opening over the ridgeportion 10 a. Subsequently, as in embodiment 1, a sheet film havingresin formed thereon is joined to the upper surfaces of the ridgeportion 10 a, the supporting portions 40, and the terrace portions 10 cusing laminating or STP. FIG. 17 shows the ceiling portion 16. Thus, thehollow portions 15 sealed with the laser structure 10 and resin areformed by forming the supporting portions 40 of resin material inportions of the channel portions 10 b and forming the ceiling portion 16over the supporting portions 40. The ceiling portion 16 serves as aceiling of the hollow portions 15.

The ceiling portion 16 is patterned by exposure and development to forman opening over the ridge portion 10 a. After that, curing is performedon the ceiling portion 16. Since the supporting portions 40 contact theridge portion 10 a, an opening width W2 of the ceiling portion 16 can bemade large. Meanwhile, in embodiment 1, since the supporting portions 13are separated from the ridge portion 10 a, the ceiling portion 16 needsto be supported by the ridge portion 10 a. Accordingly, the openingwidth W2 in FIG. 17 can be made larger than the opening width W1 of theceiling portion 16 shown in FIG. 8.

After that, an insulating film is formed on the ceiling portion 16. FIG.18, which is a cross-sectional view, shows the insulating film 17. Theinsulating film 17 on the ridge portion 10 a is removed. Then, the metallayer 18 contacting the upper surface of the ridge portion 10 a isformed over the ceiling portion 16. The metal layer 18 is patternedusing resist to form pad electrodes having predetermined shapes over theterrace portion 10 c. Thus, the laser diode including the metal layer 18shown in FIG. 13 is completed. It should be noted that forming theburied portions 30 in addition to the supporting portions 40 and theceiling portion 16 as resin and supporting the ceiling portion 16 withthe supporting portions 13 and the buried portions 30 are the same as inembodiment 1.

In the case where the width of the ridge portion 10 a is as small as,for example, 2 μm or less, there is a concern that the ridge portion 10a will be broken when a sheet film is attached to the ridge portion 10 ato form the ceiling portion 16. However, in the laser diode according toembodiment 2 of the present invention, since the supporting portions 40contact the ridge portion 10 a, the supporting portions 40 reinforce theridge portion 10 a and improve the strength of the ridge portion 10 a.Accordingly, the ridge portion 10 a can be prevented from being broken.

In embodiment 1, both the “portions supporting the ceiling portion 16”and the “opening of the ceiling portion 16” need to be formed on theridge portion 10 a. For this reason, in the case where the minimum widthof the patterning of the photosensitive resin film by exposure anddevelopment is larger than the ridge width, it is impossible to provideboth the “portions supporting the ceiling portion 16” and the “openingof the ceiling portion 16” on the ridge portion 10 a. In other words,the hollow portions 15 cannot be formed. Even in the case where theminimum width of the patterning of the photosensitive resin film byexposure and development is smaller than the width of the ridge portion10 a, a portion “supporting the ceiling portion” having a certain sizeneeds to be ensured. Accordingly, it is difficult to ensure processstability.

In view of this, in embodiment 2 of the present invention, thesupporting portions 40 are brought in contact with the side surfaces ofthe ridge portion 10 a with an insulating film interposed therebetweento form a ridge structure having a large width with the ridge portion 10a and the supporting portions 40. Thus, the “portions supporting theceiling portion 16” and the “opening of the ceiling portion 16” can beprovided on the ridge portion 10 a and the supporting portions 40, noton only the ridge portion 10 a. Accordingly, since the “portionsupporting the ceiling portion 16” and the “opening of the ceilingportion 16” can be provided in a sufficiently wide place, the processcan be stabilized.

As described above, forming a ridge structure having a large width withthe ridge portion 10 a and the supporting portions 40 makes it possibleto increase the opening width W2 of the ceiling portion 16. In the casewhere the opening width W2 is large, the volume of the metal layer 18 onthe ridge portion 10 a can be increased to reduce the wiring resistanceof the metal layer 18 and improve the gain. Since the ceiling portion 16is tapered on both sides of the opening of the ceiling portion 16, thevolume of the metal layer 18 filling the opening can be increased. Inthe case where a ceiling portion having a reverse tapered shape in whichthe opening width is larger in a lower portion than in an upper portionis provided, the ceiling portion 16 can be broken at a step. However, inthe case where the ceiling portion 16 having a tapered shape in whichthe opening width is smaller in a lower portion than in an upper portionis provided as shown in FIG. 17, the ceiling portion 16 can be preventedfrom being broken at a step.

Further, providing the supporting portions 40 on the side surfaces ofthe ridge portion 10 a prevents the supporting portions 40 from beingdelaminated. For example, the manufacture of a ridge waveguide structureburied in BCB in which grooves on both sides of a ridge portion arefilled with BCB has the problem that in dry etching for forming anopening in a resin layer over the ridge portion, resin may bedelaminated from the side surfaces of the ridge portion. However, inembodiment 2 of the present invention, since the ceiling portion 16 ismade of photosensitive resin, an opening can be formed in the ceilingportion 16 by exposure, development, and light ashing. Accordingly, thesupporting portions 40 can be prevented from being delaminated.

Embodiment 3

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a laser diode according toembodiment 3. This laser diode includes both the supporting portions 13shown in FIG. 1 and the supporting portions 40 shown in FIG. 13.Specifically, the supporting portions 40 which are portions contactingthe side surfaces of the ridge portion 10 a and the supporting portions13 which are portions contacting neither the side surfaces of the ridgeportion 10 a nor the side surfaces of the terrace portions 10 c areprovided as supporting portions.

A laser diode manufacturing method according to embodiment 3 will bedescribed. First, as described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, theprecursor 13A is formed. Subsequently, the precursor 13A is patterned.FIG. 20, which is a cross-sectional view, shows the supporting portions13 and 40 obtained by patterning the precursor. After that, ashing andcuring are performed so that the supporting portions 13 and 40, theburied portions 30, and the ridge portion 10 a may have approximatelyequal heights. FIG. 21, which is a cross-sectional view, shows a statein which ashing and curing have made the heights of the supportingportions 13 and 40 and the ridge portion 10 a approximately equal.

FIG. 22 is a plan view of the laser diode in FIG. 21. The supportingportions 13 and the supporting portions 40 surround portions of thechannel portions 10 b in planar view. The supporting portions 13 and 40surround an opening of the insulating film 12 through which the ridgeportion 10 a is exposed. The supporting portions 13 may be brought intocontact with the terrace portions 10 c, respectively.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 23, which is a cross-sectional view, theinsulating film 14 is formed on the laser structure 10 and thesupporting portions 13 and 40. Then, as shown in FIG. 24, which is across-sectional view, the ceiling portion 16 supported by the supportingportions 13 and 40 and the terrace portions 10 c is formed. The ceilingportion 16 seals a space surrounded by the supporting portions 13 and40. Specifically, the ceiling portion 16 serves as a lid for sealing thehollow portions 15 respectively sandwiched between the supportingportions 13 and the supporting portions 40. It should be noted that inthe case where end portions of the supporting portions 13 in FIG. 22contact the terrace portions 10 c, the end portions serve as buriedportions, and therefore regions respectively sandwiched between thesupporting portions 13 and the terrace portions 10 c are also sealedwith the ceiling portion 16.

Then, the insulating film 17 and the metal layer 18 are formed. Thus,the laser diode shown in FIG. 19 is completed. Forming the supportingportions 13 and 40 in one laser diode produces both the effectsexplained in embodiments 1 and 2.

Embodiment 4

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of a laser diode according toembodiment 4. The ceiling portion 16 of this laser diode is providedover the channel portions 10 b but not provided over the terraceportions 10 c. More specifically, the ceiling portion 16 is supported bythe supporting portions 13 and the supporting portions 40 but notsupported by the terrace portions 10 c. The shapes of the supportingportions 13 and 40 in planar view are the same as those in FIG. 22.

FIG. 26 is a plan view showing the ceiling portion 16 and the like. Theceiling portion 16 is provided over the channel portions 10 b and theridge portion 10 a but not provided over the terrace portions 10 c. FIG.27 is a plan view showing the metal layer 18 and the like. The pads 18A,which are portions of the metal layer 18, are provided directly over thesupporting portions 13. A capacitance C is expressed by the equationC=ε₀ε_(r)S/d (ε₀: vacuum permittivity, relative permittivity, S: area,d: distance). In embodiment 4, since the metal layer 18 is provided onlydirectly over the channel portions 10 b and the ridge portion 10 a, thearea of the metal layer 18 can be made small compared to that inembodiment 1. Accordingly, the capacitance can be made small. A laserdiode having a small capacitance is suitable for fast operation.

In the case where a small metal layer 18 such as shown in FIG. 27 isprovided, the area of the ceiling portion may be smaller than that ofthe ceiling portion 16 shown in FIG. 26. In the case where a smallceiling portion is provided, a supporting portion for supporting thesmall ceiling portion can also be made small. For example, FIG. 28 showsthe supporting portions 13 and 40 formed to be small. The supportingportions 13 and 40 are formed inward from end faces of the resonator.The lengths of the supporting portions 13 and 40 in the resonator lengthdirection are shorter than the resonator length.

FIG. 29 shows the ceiling portion 16 formed over the supporting portions13 and 40 in FIG. 28. The ceiling portion 16 in FIG. 29 has a smallerlength in the resonator length direction than the ceiling portion 16 inFIG. 26. The ceiling portion 16 in FIG. 29 has a smaller length in theresonator length direction than the resonator length. As shown in FIG.30, the metal layer 18 is formed on the ceiling portion 16.

Embodiment 5

FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view of a laser diode according toembodiment 5. Although the terrace portions 10 c are made of asemiconductor in embodiments 1 to 4, the terrace portions 60 ofembodiment 5 are made of resin. It is easy to adjust the heights of theterrace portions 60 made of resin. Accordingly, the heights of the ridgeportion 10 a, the supporting portions 13 and 40, and the terraceportions 60 can easily be made equal.

Embodiment 6

FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view of a laser diode according toembodiment 6. The metal layer 18 exists over one terrace portion 10 c ofthe two terrace portions 10 c but does not exist over the other terraceportion 10 c. Disposing such wiring made of the metal layer 18 only onone side of the laser diode makes it possible to reduce the parasiticcapacitance of the wiring.

A capacitance C is expressed by the equation C=ε₀ε_(r)S/d (ε₀: vacuumpermittivity, relative permittivity, S: area, d: distance). Since thearea of the metal layer 18 of embodiment 6 is half of the area of themetal layer 18 of embodiment 1, the capacitance can be reduced by half.A laser diode having a small capacitance is suitable for fast operation.

Embodiment 7

FIG. 33 is a plan view showing supporting portions and the like of alaser diode according to embodiment 7. A plurality of supportingportions 13 made of photosensitive resin are formed along the resonatorlength direction. In other words, a plurality of island-shapedsupporting portions 13 are provided along the ridge portion 10 a. Theshapes of the ceiling portion and the metal layer are the same as thoseof embodiment 1.

Providing the supporting portions 13 in a discontinuous manner in planarview as described above can increase the volume of hollow portionscompared to embodiment 1. Accordingly, a laser diode having a smallparasitic capacitance can be provided. Moreover, since the volume of thesupporting portions 13 made of resin is small compared to that ofembodiment 1, the internal stress in the resin is reduced, and the resincan be prevented from being delaminated and cracked.

FIG. 34 is a view showing a modified example of supporting portions. InFIG. 34, the number of supporting portions 13 is smaller than in FIG.33, and the buried portions 30 are moved from resonator end faces towarda center of the resonator accordingly. A ceiling portion is formed overthe buried portions 30, the supporting portions 13, and the terraceportions 10 c to form sealed hollow portions. The length of the ceilingportion is made smaller than the resonator length, and the ceilingportion is supported by the supporting portions or the buried portions.

Embodiment 8

FIG. 35 is a plan view showing supporting portions and the likeaccording to embodiment 8. The buried portions 30 are provided inwardfrom the end faces of the laser diode. FIG. 36 is a view showing theceiling portion 16 formed over the supporting portions 13, the buriedportions 30, and the terrace portions 10 c in FIG. 35. In embodiment 1,as described with reference to FIG. 9, the ceiling portion 16 is formedover the entire laser structure. However, in embodiment 8, as shown inFIG. 36, the ceiling portion 16 which is long in the lateral directionof the resonator is formed. In the case where the ceiling portion 16 ismade of photosensitive resin, the ceiling portion 16 is patterned byexposure, development, and ashing. Meanwhile, in the case where theceiling portion 16 is made of non-photosensitive resin, a hard mask madeof an insulating film and resist are formed over the ceiling portion 16,and patterning is performed by dry etching.

FIG. 37 is a view showing the metal layer 18 formed over the ceilingportion 16. The laser diode according to embodiment 8 is featured by thesupporting portions 13 formed in only required regions in accordancewith the shape of the metal layer 18. In embodiment 8 of the presentinvention, the volume of the supporting portions 13 and the ceilingportion 16 made of resin is smaller than that of embodiment 1, andtherefore internal stress in the supporting portions 13 and the ceilingportion 16 is reduced. Accordingly, the resin materials of thesupporting portions 13 and the ceiling portion 16 can be prevented frombeing delaminated and cracked. It should be noted that features of thelaser diodes and the laser diode manufacturing methods according to theembodiments described above may be appropriately combined.

The present invention has a structure in which a ceiling portion servingas an underlying layer for a metal layer over grooves formed along bothsides of a ridge portion is supported by supporting portions provided inthe grooves, and therefore can prevent the sagging of the ceilingportion.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:
 1. A laser diode comprising: a ridge portion raisedin a stripe shape; channel portions located adjacent to the ridgeportion such that the ridge portion is sandwiched therebetween, thechannel portions being shorter in height than the ridge portion; terraceportions adjacent to opposite sides of the respective channel portionsfrom the ridge portion and longer in height than the channel portions;supporting portions provided over the respective channel portions,separated from respective adjacent side surfaces of the ridge portion orside surfaces of the respective adjacent terrace portions or both, andmade of resin; a ceiling portion including first portions provided overthe respective supporting portions and second portions continuous withthe respective first portions and located over the respective channelportions with hollow portions interposed therebetween, the ceilingportion being made of resin; and a metal layer provided over the ceilingportion and connected to an upper surface of the ridge portion.
 2. Thelaser diode according to claim 1, wherein the ceiling portion includesthird portions provided to be continuous with the respective firstportions or the respective second portions and provided over therespective terrace portions.
 3. The laser diode according to claim 1,wherein each of the supporting portions is separated from both theadjacent side surface of the ridge portion and the side surface of theadjacent terrace portion.
 4. The laser diode according to claim 1,further comprising: buried portions made of resin and provided over eachof the channel portions to be respectively connected to opposite ends ofthe corresponding supporting portion in planar view and contact both theadjacent side surface of the ridge portion and the side surface of theadjacent terrace portion, wherein the ceiling portion includes fourthportions provided over the respective buried portions to be continuouswith the first portions or the second portions.
 5. The laser diodeaccording to claim 4, wherein the buried portions are provided along endfaces of the laser diode.
 6. The laser diode according to claim 4,wherein the buried portions are provided inward from end faces of thelaser diode.
 7. The laser diode according to claim 1, wherein thesupporting portions indirectly contact the side surfaces of the ridgeportion, respectively, via an insulating film.
 8. The laser diodeaccording to claim 1, wherein each of the supporting portions includes aportion indirectly contacting the adjacent side surface of the ridgeportion via an insulating film and a portion contacting neither theadjacent side surface of the ridge portion nor the side surface of theadjacent terrace portion.
 9. The laser diode according to claim 1,wherein the ceiling portion is provided over the channel portions butnot provided over the terrace portions.
 10. The laser diode according toclaim 1, wherein the terrace portions are made of resin.
 11. The laserdiode according to claim 2, wherein the metal layer is provided over oneof the terrace portions but not provided over the other of the terraceportions.
 12. The laser diode according to claim 1, wherein each of thesupporting portions includes a plurality of separate portions formedalong a resonator length direction.
 13. The laser diode according toclaim 1, wherein the supporting portions are provided to surround, inplanar view, a region in which the metal layer contacts the ridgeportion, and the ceiling portion seals a space surrounded by thesupporting portions.